NEW FLIGHT HOURS IN EU PUT LIVES AT RISK – BALPA

By Dino D'Amore
January 28, 2011 17:26

Proposals from the EU’s European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that will limit flying to 13 hours and 55 minutes up from the current 10 hour, 15 minute limit under current UK regulations puts lives at risk, the British Airline Pilots Association said.

The EASA has ignored scientific evidence that up to 20% of accidents are caused by fatigue, Balpa said in a statement. The EASA, which implements and monitors aviation safety rules in the EU, aims to introduce the new limits by April next year.

The European Low Fares Airline Association, a 10-member lobby group with members including Ryanair Holdings Plc and EasyJet Plc, the region’s biggest discount carriers, said in December it rejected “unsubstantiated” claims from pilot and cabin crew unions that EU rules are unsafe.